Strawberry plant named &#34;Sahara&#34;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct strawberry variety,  Fragaria×ananassa , cv. “Sahara” is characterized by an early time of flowering, an early time of ripening, an orange red fruit flesh color, a terminal leaflet length to width ratio that is longer than broad, and a terminal leaflet base shape that is acute.

LATIN NAME OF THE GENUS AND SPECIES CLAIMED

Fragaria×ananassa

VARIETY DENOMINATION

‘Sahara’

BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct strawberry variety.The varietal denomination of the new variety is “Sahara”. The newvariety was designated by the breeder as “Sahara. 06.43H.79”. The newvariety of strawberry was created in a breeding program by crossing twoparents in 2006 in Cartaya (Huelva), Spain; in particular, by crossingas seed parent an undistributed strawberry parent designated “02-125”(unpatented) and as pollen parent an strawberry parent designated“03.98” (unpatented). Each parent is a selection from breeder's programand has not been commercialized.

The resulting seedling of the new variety was grown and asexuallypropagated by runners in Cartaya (Huelva), Spain, 7° W, 37° N, 45 feetelevation. Clones of the new variety were further asexually propagatedand extensively tested. This propagation and testing has demonstratedthat the combination of traits disclosed herein which characterize thenew variety are fixed and retained true to type through successivegenerations of asexual reproduction.

Among the characteristics which appear to distinguish the new varietyfrom its closest variety of which I am aware, “Sabrosa” (U.S. Plant Pat.No. 16,558) is a combination of traits which include: a terminal leafletlength to width ratio that is longer than broad for the new variety, ascompared to a ratio that is as long as broad for “Sabrosa,” a terminalleaflet base shape that is acute as compared to obtuse for “Sabrosa,” afruit flesh color that is orange red as compared to medium red for“Sabrosa,” a fruit hollow center that is weakly expressed as compared toabsent or very weakly expressed for “Sabrosa,” and an early time offlowering (50% of plants at first flower) and early time of ripening(50% of plants with ripe fruit) as compared to medium times of floweringand ripening for “Sabrosa.”

The average fruit mass (g/fruit) observed for the new variety “Sahara”on March 18 was 37.9g, as compared to 39.3g for “Sabrosa” and 24.7 g for“Camarosa” (unpatented). The luminosity for the fruit of the new varietyat 460nm was 18.6, as compared to 27.3 for “Sabrosa” and 31.5 for“Camarosa.”

The accompanying photographs show typical specimens of the new variety,designated “Sahara” or “06.43H.79” in the photographs.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs show typical specimens of the new variety,designated “Sahara” or “06.43H.79” in the illustrations, includingfruit, foliage and flower, in color as nearly true as it is reasonablypossible to make in color illustrations of this character.

FIG. 1 shows several plants of the new variety “Sahara.”

FIG. 2 shows several plants of the new variety “Sahara.”

FIG. 3 shows the upper side of a complete leaf of the new variety“Sahara.” A terminal leaflet length to width ratio that is longer thanbroad can be seen, as can a terminal leaflet base shape that is acute. Amedium green color can be seen.

FIG. 4 shows the lower side of a complete leaf of the new variety,“Sahara.” A slightly concave to flat cross-section can be seen.

FIG. 5 shows the upper side of a terminal leaflet of the new variety“Sahara.” A medium green color, and a crenate shape of incisions at themargin can be seen.

FIG. 6 shows the lower side of a terminal leaflet of the new variety“Sahara.”

FIG. 7 shows the upper side of a terminal leaflet of the new variety“Sahara” in comparison to that of “Camarosa.”

FIG. 8 shows the upper side of a terminal leaflet of the new variety“Sahara” in comparison to that of “Sabrosa.”

FIG. 9 shows the flower and calyx of the new variety, “Sahara.”

FIG. 10 shows a typical whole fruit and a sliced section of the fruit ofthe new variety “Sahara.” In the whole fruit, a conical shape, redcolor, and medium glossiness can be seen. In the sliced section, thetypical flesh coloration of about orange red and a weakly expressedhollow center can be seen.

FIG. 11 shows typical whole fruit of the new variety “Sahara” incomparison to that of the variety “Camarosa.”

FIG.' 12 shows typical sliced section of the new variety “Sahara” incomparison to that of the variety “Camarosa.”

FIG. 13 shows typical whole fruit of the new variety “Sahara” incomparison to that of the variety “Sabrosa.”

FIG. 14 shows typical sliced section of the new variety “Sahara” incomparison to that of the variety “Sabrosa.”

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW VARIETY

Throughout this specification, color names beginning with a small lettersignify that the name of that color, as used in common speech is aptlydescriptive. Color names beginning with a capital letter designatevalues based upon the R.H.S. Colour Chart published by The RoyalHorticultural Society, London, England, 1995. The color descriptions andother phenotypical descriptions may deviate from the stated values anddescriptions depending upon variation in environmental, seasonal,climatic and cultural conditions.

The following The following detailed description of the new variety isbased upon observations taken of plants and fruits grown in Cartaya(Huelva), Spain, 7° W, 37° N, 45 feet elevation.

The new variety is principally propagated by way of runners. Althoughpropagation by runners is presently preferred, other known methods ofpropagating strawberry plants may be used. Strawberries root well aftertransplanting.

The term “blistering” used herein refers to the texture or rugosity orsurface ondulation inherent to leaves and is generally a constantcharacteristic.

Table 1 shows the Weight (g/Fruit) at March 18 of the new variety“Sahara” when compared its closest variety “Sabrosa,” and anothervariety, “Camarosa.”

TABLE 1 WEIGHT (g/fruit)^(i) March 18 Sahara 37.9 Sabrosa 39.3 Camarosa24.7 ^(i)WEIGHT is shown as the average weight per fruit in FirstQuality Fruits.

Table 2 shows a comparison of the fruit analysis on March 18 between thenew variety “Sahara,” its closest variety, “Sabrosa,” and anothervariety, “Camarosa.”

TABLE 2 SAHARA SABROSA CAMAROSA Humidity & Volatile Matter (%) 91.0 91.290.4 Dry Matter (%) 9.0 8.8 9.6 pH (to 20°) 3.8 3.7 3.7 Acidity asAnhydride Citric (%) 0.6 0.6 0.6 Soluble solids (°Brix) 7.9 7.0 7.5Maturity Index 13.1 11.7 12.5 Dominant Tonality (nm) 490 495 495Luminosity: Transmittance 18.6 27.3 31.5 to 460 nm Dry Matter: It is theweight of the residual left from the trituration of the fruit after thedrying process at a temperature of 103° C. + 2° C. until reachingconstant weight.

${\% \mspace{14mu} {Dry}\mspace{14mu} {Matter}} = {\frac{{Weight}\mspace{14mu} {Dry}\mspace{14mu} {Matter}}{{Weight}\mspace{14mu} {Fresh}\mspace{14mu} {Matter}} \times 100}$

Humidity & Volatile Matter: Represents the content in volatile mattersand water of the fruits.

(%) Humidity & Volatile Matter=100−% Dry Matter

Maturity Index: Relation between Soluble solids and Acidity as AnhydrideCitric.

${{Maturity}\mspace{14mu} {Index}} = \frac{{Soluble}\mspace{14mu} {solids}}{{Acidity}\mspace{14mu} {as}\mspace{14mu} {Anhydride}\mspace{14mu} {Citric}}$

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW VARIETY

-   Plant:    -   -   Growth habit.—Upright.        -   Habit.—Globose.        -   Density.—Open.        -   Vigor.—Medium.-   Leaf:    -   -   Size.—Large.        -   Upperside.—Medium Green.        -   Cross section.—Slightly concave to flat.        -   Leaf surface ondulation or blistering.—Weak.        -   Glossiness.—Medium.        -   Leaf variegation.—Absent.-   Terminal leaflet:    -   -   Length/width ratio.—Longer than broad.        -   Shape in cross section.—Slightly concave to flat.        -   Shape of base.—Acute.        -   Margin.—Crenate.-   Petiole:    -   -   Attitude of hairs.—Slightly outwards.        -   Length.—Long (about 12cm).-   Stipule:    -   -   Anthocyanin coloration.—Weak.        -   Size.—Medium.-   Stolons:    -   -   Number.—Medium.        -   Antocyanin coloration.—Weak.        -   Pubescence.—Weak.-   Inflorescence:    -   -   Position relative to foliage.—Level with.        -   Number of flowers.—Medium.-   Flower:    -   -   Size.—Medium.        -   Size of calyx relative to corolla.—Same size.        -   Stamen.—Present.-   Primary flower:    -   -   Relative positioning of petals.—Overlapping.-   Petal:    -   -   Length/width ratio.—Broader than long.        -   Color.—White.-   Fruit:    -   -   Ratio of length/width.—Slightly longer than broad.        -   Color.—Red.        -   Size.—Medium.        -   Difference in shapes between primary and secondary            fruits.—Moderate.        -   Band without achenes.—Absent or very narrow.        -   Unevenness of surface.—Weak.        -   Evenness of colour.—Even.        -   Glosiness.—Medium.        -   Insertion of achenes.—Below surface.        -   Insertion of calyx.—Level with fruit.        -   Attitude of the calyx segments.—Reflexed.        -   Size of the calyx in relation to fruit diameter.—Slightly            smaller.        -   Adherence of calyx.—Strong.        -   Firmness.—Firm.        -   Colour of flesh.—Orange Red.        -   Hollow center.—Weakly expressed.        -   Color of core.—Light red.        -   Distribution of red colour of flesh.—Only marginal.        -   Time of flowering.—Early.        -   Tim of ripening.—Early.        -   Type of bearing.—Not remontant.        -   Shape.—Conical.-   Disease resistance: No particular sensitivity to any disease or    parasite has been observed for “Sahara”.

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct strawberry plant of thevariety substantially as shown and described.